Admiktsteatob op albany



enter am@m A. P'ACKHAM.

Improvement ih Post Office'Letter Stamping Apparatus.

Fig.1

Patented Feb. 13, 18,72.

JOHN J. ORR, 0F OARROLLTON, KEXTUCKY, ADMINISTRATOR OF ALBANY PAGKHAM, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J OHN A. ASHBURY.

IMPRGVEMENT IN POST-OFFICE LETTER=STAMPING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,578, dated February 13, 1872.

ALBANY PACKHAM, deceased, late of-Irestonville, Uarroll county, State of Kentucky, during his lifetimeinvented a new and useful Machine for Stamping Letters with the Post-Mark and Canceling the Postage-Stamps on the same, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Objects of Invention.

The invention consists of a pair of rolls, between which the letters are passed, the rollers being constructed with spiral projections, adapted, when supplied with ink, to print diagonal lines over the surface (both sides) of the letters, and also fitted with a stamp to print the post-mark in the same operation, the object of the invention being to print a line or lines over the stamps to cancel the same and render it diflicult to open the letter without destroying the accuracy of the lines, and at the same operation to post-mark the letter.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure l is an elevation of the machine, and

Fig. 2 an end view.

General Description.

The rollers A B are journaled in the frame 0 in the manner shown, the upper one being adjustable vertically to adapt the rolls for passing varying thicknesses of letters. The adjustment of the upper roller is automatic or selfregulating, rubber springs being interposed between the boxes a a and depressing-screws I) D. The rollers are geared together at one end in the manner shown, and connected to a suitable treadle or other driving mechanism. A table, E, is provided, on which the letters are laid and fed to the rollers, and an endless band or apron, F, carries them away into the required receptacle. Spiral projections or screwllreads are formed upon the rollers A B, as

shown, the projections of roller A matching and touching those of roller B. In the operation of the machine, printers inking-rollers with suitable ink-fountains are used to supply ink to the rollers in such a way that, as the letters are passed through, they are printed on both sides of the envelope, with diagonal lines or bars so close together that a stamp, n0 matter where it is placed, cannot escape a line.

By this means an y number of stamps are canceled at one operation and a number of lines are printed upon the letter on both sides, which Claim In the combination of the rolls A B I claim providing the counter-roll B with rings coinciding with those upon the postmarking roll A, to print a series of lines upon the back of the letter at the same time that the post-marking and canceling lines are formed upon the face thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

J OHN J. ORR, Administrator, (he.

Witnesses:

It. F. HARRISON, J. T. SuLLnNGsR. 

